Welcome to Shared Value Solutions' biweekly funding and news digest. We hope it finds you well.
In this mid-summer issue, we share a reading list of books by Indigenous authors based on recommendations from our team members. We also share the first in our series of volunteer highlights; our path to reconciliation includes making a difference in our communities so keep an eye out for more. Be sure to read the Special Notice section for important information impacting Ontario First Nations.
We also share a new post in our Women Crush Wednesday series. And be sure to check out our latest job postings, and share widely with your network. We share our usual inspiring stories from across Turtle Island, as well as our usual round up of funding opportunities for you to check out. Have a safe, happy, and healthy summer!
At SVS, we are continually expanding our minds by reading and expanding our libraries by sharing our book recommendations with each other. As part of our commitment to Reconciliation, we strive to support and highlight the work of Indigenous authors. The below list of books are suggestions from our team members, some that we've read and some that are on our personal reading lists. Check them out!
At SVS, we take pride in our commitment to our clients and our community. So much so that we have built opportunities for volunteer work into our company operations and encourage active participation in our communities as part of our company culture.
We are so thrilled about the great work being done by SVS team members that we will be showcasing their volunteer activities over social media. Keep an eye out for these posts as well as all the other thought-provoking and engaging posts that come from our ongoing commitment to reconciliation.
Our first volunteer is Katie Turriff, who spent some time volunteering with her cousin Dawn Iehstoseranón:ha. Dawn is the volunteer president and founder of the Indigenous Arts Collective of Canada. Through IndigenARTSY, a sister organization, Dawn is selling a collection of orange shirts, and other items, to create awareness for the Every Child Matters movement and to raise funds.
Erin Knight, SVS's Chief Operations Officer, was recently profiled in our #WCW series.
Erin is a mom, HR specialist, and SVS’s resident change management expert. As COO, she is responsible for managing all the moving pieces in our partnerships and projects and giving our staff the tools they need to succeed within these endeavors.
“Life is a journey—and everything along the way is going to teach you something. You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to do it the way that everyone else is.”
Here are some opportunities to check out:
"Through our Green Jobs in Green Spaces Program, Project Learning Tree Canada can provide a 50% wage-subsidy to support sustainability-focused youth employment in the forest and conservation sectors.
MENDM has funding available for Indigenous communities to hire a mineral development advisor for a period of three years (with maximum funding of up to $130,000 per year), to assist in the regulatory consultation process. Applications are accepted on an on-going basis.
The Ontario government is investing over $12.8 million to immediately expand and enhance culturally appropriate mental health and addictions services for Indigenous peoples, families and communities across the province. This funding is part of the $176 million being invested in the government's mental health and addictions plan, Roadmap to Wellness. The plan is delivering high-quality care and building a modern, connected and comprehensive mental health and addictions system.
The MTO has released a discussion paper to inform the development of a long-term transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The paper proposes a 30-year vision for mobility in the region. The discussion paper is being released in order to seek feedback to inform the development of a long-term transportation plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The comment period is open from June 29, 2021 - August 28, 2021.
Ontario Regulation 511 is a new regulation under the revised Environmental Assessment Act that would have major implications for Ontario First Nations – both good implications and bad implications.
The good news: It removes the requirement for provincial environmental assessments (“EAs”) for land claims and related agreements and processes. So this extra burden will not apply in the land claim context. First Nations asked for that change over a year ago and Ontario has made it.
The bad news: In addition and separate and apart from exempting land claims from EA requirements, the regulation removes EAs from any project or decision or situation in which an Indigenous party has or could get some interest in land. “Interest” can mean almost anything – a payment for impacts, a lease, a permit, a protection regime.
WHAT THIS MEANS is that the SECOND HALF of this regulation could enable Ontario to exempt EAs from applying to many types of situations. All it takes is for one Indigenous party to have or seek some vague “interest” in the related land. By including this SECOND HALF in the regulation, Ontario is trying to slip through the back door what we already challenged through the front door – a broad gutting of the EAA and EAs and environmental protection laws overall.
Several First Nations have already challenged the Ford government’s stripping of the Environmental Assessment Act (“EAA”) in a judicial review (“JR”) that was heard before the court in May of this year. The decision on this case is pending; however, in the meantime, on July 17 Ontario passed a new regulation under the EAA (O Reg 511). Even though the regulation has passed, there are still opportunities to challenge, namely there is a 30-day window to challenge or contest this regulation.
Check out our collection of informative eBooks that are available for free download:
First Nations are reporting that, even in the midst of a pandemic that has many band offices closed, resource development proponents continue to send referrals to move projects forward. We have ideas on how to support. Get in touch.
From coast to coast to coast, our team at Shared Value Solutions is busy working with our First Nations, Métis and Inuit clients - and we are looking to fill the following position:
In the spirit of reconciliation and diversity, we are committed to increasing our number of Indigenous employees. Please let us know in your application if you are First Nations, Métis or Inuit. And please let us know if you speak: French, Cree, Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Innu, or other languages that might be useful for this position! Please share these posts widely with your networks.
SVS's Reconciliation Circle was born out of our commitment to the TRC Calls to Action. As a company, Call to Action #92 is a place we can directly put our efforts. We see it as a place we can influence the culture and operations within our company and hopefully influence other companies with our examples. We are a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals who have seen and learned much on our journeys – and acknowledge we have so much more to learn and to know.
Starting this month, we are sharing what we are learning about the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports, as well as other actions we and others are taking to promote reconciliation.
Here are links to our first three posts in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (#TrcTuesday) series:
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We are a Canadian B Corp, and we assist Indigenous Nations with support throughout regulatory processes surrounding major development projects like mines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission lines, highway expansions, oil and gas pipelines, natural resource transport applications and nuclear power.
We have deep context and experience behind the recommendations we provide, having worked for our clients on almost every major project in Canada over the last 10 years. For us, it’s all about building long-term relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you and what you want to do so we can help you move your plans forward.
Core Services: